Beginning February 1, 2008, the Department of State will institute a new fee schedule for passport services.  At this time applicants will also have the option of ordering a new Passport Card, a low cost, limited use (land and sea only) alternative to the Passport Book designed for those living along the border.  In addition, the age for which both parents must appear and sign a passport application on behalf of a child will increase from 14 to 16 years old.

Fees are being adjusted to cover the cost of providing efficient and secure passport services including infrastructure, technology and staff.  The Passport Execution fee collected by passport acceptance centers and U.S. consular sections abroad is being reduced from $30 to $25.

To protect children from abduction, and to address concerns regarding runaway children, beginning February 1,  both parents will be required to personally appear at a passport acceptance facility, passport agency or U.S. consular section abroad with minor applicants under the age of 16 (up from age 14) and sign the application. 

New forms and new information on applying for a Passport and Passport Card will be available February 1 at http://travel.state.gov/passport.

Background:  New rules for parental consent were published at 72 Federal Register 64930 (November 19, 2007) and to be codified at 22 CFR Part 51.  New rules for the passport card were published December 31. 2007.  Rules for the adjustments to the fee schedule were published on January 25, 2008.